By Stephen H. Cowles

Special to the News-Herald

 

Members of the Windsor Gymnastics Association will do more than just tumble about this season. As a way to finance upcoming competitions, the group will participate in a fundraiser that has real sole, er, soul.

Leslie Griffin, recently named president of the WGA, explained the project.

“We were looking for a different way other than basic catalogue stuff, such as selling Yankee Candles,” she said. Then the WGA came across www.funds2orgs.com, which helps organizations with fundraising. They do so by collecting gently worn, used or new shoes.

“What better way to help community and around the world?” said Griffin, whose daughter Chloe, 10, is one of the gymnasts. “We were thinking out of the box.”

The goal is to collect enough for 300 bags, and each contains 25 pairs of shoes — 7,500 total, which will be mended and then dispersed globally.

“If we get 250 bags or less, that’s $10 each; over that, they’re weighed by the pound, and we can get up to $3,000,” she said. “Either way, we’re doing it for a good cause. We’re helping them; they’re helping us. It seemed like a really awesome thing to do.”

There’s a box set up at the training center, 37 W. Windsor Blvd. Call 242-4900 or visit www.windsorgymnastics.org.

Griffin added that competitions begin in October and last through May, with one event per month. The girls on the team range in ages from 8 to 16.